London: Diego Costa and Eden Hazard scored in the second half as Chelsea finally broke down Leicester's stubborn resistance for a 2-0 victory in the Premier League on Saturday.
The newly promoted visitors had threatened a major upset until Costa controlled a deflected pass from Branislav Ivanovic in front of goal and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel in the 63rd minute. It was Costa's second goal in two league games for Chelsea, having joined from Atletico Madrid in the offseason.
Hazard then put the result beyond doubt with a solo effort in the 77th, cutting in from the left and sending a low shot inside the far post as Chelsea earned their second straight win to start the season.
Leicester missed a couple of good chances before Costa's opener, including when David Nugent came clear through on goal but had his shot saved by the onrushing Thibaut Courtois. Shortly afterward, Schmeichel did well to palm away a chip by Cesc Fabregas to keep Leicester in the game, as the two goalkeepers took turns making good saves through the first 60 minutes.
But Costa soon ended the resistance. Oscar played Ivanovic into the right side of the area, and his cutback was chested down by Costa, before the Brazil-born Spain international drilled it past Schmeichel from six yards.
Hazard then wrapped things up when he collected the ball on the left, cut inside before drilling a low shot past Schmeichel into the corner.
Didier Drogba was given a standing ovation from the Stamford Bridge crowd when he came on for Costa, his second home debut after rejoining the club in the summer
Southampton and West Bromwich Albion played out a 0-0 draw in Ronald Koeman's first home game in charge of the Saints.
Koeman brought in Graziano Pelle and Dusan Tadic to cushion the blow of losing Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert to Liverpool but neither could score at St Mary's.
West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster made the first real save of the game as he pushed away Serbia international Tadic's close-range effort. Tadic also wasted the best chance in the early stages of the second half with a tame shot at Foster.
Big-money summer signings Shane Long and Brown Ideye were left warming the Southampton and West Brom benches, respectively, before coming on but couldn't break through.
Swansea City also have six points from their opening two games after a first-half Nathan Dyer goal gave them a 1-0 win over Burnley at the Liberty Stadium.
In the other games Aston Villa drew 0-0 with Newcastle United and Southampton were held to a 0-0 draw at home by West Bromwich Albion.
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